Jared Allen will wait until after Pro Bowl to have shoulder surgery

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January 7, 2013 - 3:52 PM

Vikings defensive end Jared Allen will have offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury he played the entire 2012 season with. Allen said the injury was an annoyance more than a major hindrance. He finished the year with 59 tackles 12 sacks and 38 quarterback hits. That came a year after he threatened the NFL’s single-season record with 22.

“Part of my game is an inside counter move and I just didn’t have the complete strength,” Allen said. “There’s a couple of times that I was sitting there watching the quarterback right there and I’m just trying to get a couple of more inches of separation, which is the difference of a tackle where you get a hand on him versus wrapping him up.”

Allen didn’t know how long the post-operative recovery timetable would be but said he’d probably be rehabilitating for “a couple months.” The 30-year-old end also said he’d wait until after playing in the Pro Bowl to have the surgery on his injured shoulder.

“I’ve played with it all year, I’m going to at least enjoy the benefits of it right?” Allen said. “That’s like going to the ice cream shop and not getting any ice cream. I’ll at least enjoy the free trip to Hawaii.”